The Moose Paradox by ANTTI TUOMAINEN T. DAVID HACKSTON PAPERBACK BLOG TOUR @ANTTI_TUOMAINEN T. @COUNTERTENORIST @ORENDABOOKS #THEMOOSEPARADOX

 

Insurance mathematician Henri Koskinen has finally restored order both to his life and to YouMeFun, the adventure park he now owns, when a man from the past appears – and turns everything upside down again. More problems arise when the park’s equipment supplier is taken over by a shady trio, with confusing demands. Why won’t Toy of Finland Ltd sell the new Moose Chute to Henri when he needs it as the park’s main attraction?

Meanwhile, Henri’s relationship with artist Laura has reached breaking point, and, in order to survive this new chaotic world, he must push every calculation to its limits, before it’s too late…

Absurdly funny, heart-stoppingly poignant and full of nail-biting suspense, The Moose Paradox is the second instalment in the critically acclaimed, pitch-perfect Rabbit Factor Trilogy and things are messier than ever…

The Moose Paradox by Antti Tuomainen was published in paperback by Orenda Books on 22 June 2023. It is translated by David Hackston

To celebrate paperback publication, I'm delighted to re-share my review here on Random Things today, part of the Orenda Blog Tour 

I read and reviewed the first in this series; The Rabbit Factor, back in November of last year. I was absolutely transfixed by lead character Henri and his mathematics obsession, his naivety and his humour struck such a chord with me and I've been so looking forward to this one, the next in the series. 

I'm really not sure how he does it, but The Moose Paradox is even better than book one. I had never imagined that I could get so involved with a character who owns and manages a children's fun park, but I have and I love Henri and his team of quirky staff members so much. 

It really felt like Henri was in the best place as The Rabbit Factor ended, but he's obviously not as this begins with him in another risky situation. Poor Henri seems to attract every shyster and conman in Finland and the re-appearance of an unseen, but major character from the first book just throws his life into total and utter chaos. 

Yes, it's crime fiction, there are some real rogues in this story and Henri fears for his life more than once. However, this is also laugh-out-loud funny as Tuomainen develops the plot and Henri gets himself into more and more crazy situations. 

Henri wants that Moose Chute, he wants it desperately, he's convinced that it's the perfect attraction for his visitors and he really needs to fend off the competition. However, the suppliers have other ideas and the unwanted meddling from someone who should have his back, but doesn't makes the acquisition of this seemingly harmless piece of play equipment something of a dangerous, nearly on deadly, nightmare!

I absolutely adore this series. The writing is sublime, perfect in pace and sense of danger. The dry wit, the complexities of Henri and his relationships with others are just beautifully created. 

Welcome back Henri, I'm so looking forward to seeing what happens next. 

**Soon to be a major motion picture starring Steve Carell**

Praise for Antti Tuomainen

‘In these uncertain times, what better hero than an actuary?' Chris Brookmyre

‘One of those rare writers who manages to deftly balance intrigue, noir and a deliciously ironic sense of humour … a delight’ Vaseem Khan

‘What a book! Antti has managed to put the fun into funerals and take it out of fun fairs in a gripping nail-biter … a thrilling and hilarious read’ Liz Nugent

‘Finnish crime maestro Antti Tuomainen is unique in the Scandi-crime genre, infusing his crime narratives with the darkest humour … [his] often hilarious, chaotic narrative never vitiates the novel’s nicely tuned tension’ Financial Times

 

‘Enter hitmen, serendipity, offbeat comedy and the reappearance of literally the last person Henri expects to see … unlike anything else out there’ The Times

 

‘A thriller with black comedy worthy of Nabokov’ Telegraph Book of the Year

Finnish Antti Tuomainen was an award-winning copywriter when he made his literary
debut in 2007 as a suspense author in 2013, the Finnish press crowned Tuomainen the 'King of Helsinki Noir' when Dark as My Heart was published. 

With a piercing and evocative style, Tuomainen was one of the first to challenge the Scandinavian crime genre formula, and his poignant, dark and hilarious The Man Who Died became an international bestseller, shortlisting for the Petrona and Last Laugh Awards. 

Palm Beach Finland was an immense success, with Marcel Berlins (The Times) calling Tuomainen 'the funniest writer in Europe'. 

Little Siberia (2020), was shortlisted for the CWA International Dagger, the Amazon Publishing/Capital Crime Awards and the CrimeFest Last Laugh Award, and won the Petrona Award for Best Scandinavian Crime Novel of the Year. 

The Rabbit Factor (2021), the first book in Antti's first ever series,is in production by Amazon Studios with Steve Carell starring.

The Moose Paradox, book two in the series is out in 2022.

Twitter @antti_tuomainen

David Hackston is a British Translator of Finnish and Swedish literature and drama. 

Notable publications include The Dedalus Book of Finnish Fantasy, Maria Peura’s coming-of-age novel At the Edge of Light, Johanna Sinisalo’s eco-thriller Birdbrain, two crime novels by Matti Joensuu and Kati Hiekkapelto’s Anna Fekete series (which currently includes The Hummingbird, The Defenceless and The Exiled, all published by Orenda Books). 

He also translates Antti Tuomainen’s stories. 

In 2007 he was awarded the Finnish State Prize for Translation. 

David is also a professional countertenor and a founding member of the English Vocal Consort of Helsinki. 

Follow David on Twitter @Countertenorist